The Spectrum & Daily News has complied the following responses from the six candidates running for the Cedar City Council. We asked the candidates, who are running for two open seats, to respond to five questions posed by Cedar City reporter Bree Burkitt. The candidates responded in writing, and their responses have been edited for clarity and length as needed.

The primary election is scheduled for Aug. 15. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Aug. 14 or dropped off at the Cedar City Council Chambers or the Parowan City Office on Election Day. Those wanting to cast their vote in-person must surrender their mail-in ballots at the polling location.

Who’s on the ballot

Ron Adams

Current Cedar City councilman and real estate agent

Rich Gillette

Real estate agent and member of the planning commission

Bruce Hughes

Certified public accountant

Scott Johnson

Rainbow Sign and Banner employee

Andrew McAffee

Manager of Thunderbird Storage

R. Scott Phillips

Former executive director of the Utah Shakespeare Festival

1. In brief, why are you running for the Cedar City Council?

Ron Adams

Ron Adams

Submitted

Adams: I am so involved in our city and know that the next four years will be very important to all residents. We will see some growth and that growth needs to be controlled and managed within the resources we have available in our area. Proper management of our infrastructure and services to continue to improve older service lines and provide new lines to new areas. Growth is heathy, but must not place a burden on those who were here before. It has to pay for itself as we move forward.

Gillette: I have been working up to the City Council for the past 10 plus years. Having served on the both the Planning Commission and Board of Adjustments, I have the experience and commitment to serve the people of Cedar City.

Hughes: I have enjoyed giving back to and serving our community since I moved here 24 years ago. This is another opportunity to give community service. This election is not about what’s wrong with Cedar City, it’s about what we can make better. I believe that one person can make a difference, both at the ballot box and sitting on the Council.

Johnson: I believe there is a large need for a representative of the college student, the younger class and the blue collar workers. I believe it is time for fresh eyes with a connection to these under represented citizens.

McAffee: I feel that Cedar City will soon decide the kind of city it will be. As a resident, I want to play a role in those decisions. I am in my 30s, I plan on being here for the next 50 years, and I am running for City Council not just to shape the future of Cedar, but to help guide the decisions of my home town.

Phillips: I am running because I care about this community and people who live here. For the past 40 years, I have worked and participated in many of the daily functions of this community. I believe any type of public service is part of being a good citizen of that community. Our geographic location, can-do spirit, love of family and dedication to making Cedar City a better place is what inspires each day. As I travel through our city, I am energized by our possibilities.

2. What issues are you most concerned about?

Adams: Maintaining and improving our infrastructure. Water, sewer, and storm drain lines to keep those services working for our citizens. Continue to recharge our water table and work to obtain more water for the future. Keeping our police and fire departments staffed and with the equipment necessary to keep us safe. Continue to work with city and private groups to provide the leisure services our adults and children need to keep them active and doing the activities they enjoy.

Rich Gillette

Rich Gillette

Submitted

Gillette: Maintaining a strong vibrant economy. We need to support the existing business and recruit smart and strong new development.

Hughes: Cedar City is an amazing community that has much to offer and is blessed with hard-working, generous citizens. Like any small town, we have challenges and we must be vibrant and diligent in order to survive and offer a prosperous future for our children. I am fully committed to help make that happen.

Johnson: My biggest concerns are revitalizing downtown and attracting tourism to our beautiful city. We have so much to offer in and around Cedar City. We can become a travel hub and simultaneously boost our local economy.

Andrew McAffee

Andrew McAffee

Submitted

McAffee: I am dedicated to making Cedar City a vibrant and welcoming place for those who visit, and for those who come to stay. As a town, Cedar City has an abundance of natural resources, scenic views and recreational areas. I want to make sure that we are making the most efficient use and best profit from those resources through proper marketing and management.

Phillips: Cedar City is only as strong as its city center. Our downtown should be a vibrant, historic and thriving place for business and entertainment where families, students and tourist are always welcome. Families who wish to remain in this community must have the opportunity to find good, well-paid employment in which to raise a family and become a valued contributing member of our community. A diversified economy will help weather storms of changing economic tides. We must ensure our public safety personnel are well equipped and prepared to protect our community, our families and our neighborhoods. Cedar City must continue to find ways to conserve, recharge, and acquire new sources of water. Plans are currently underway to change this trend, but we all must do more.

3. What do you believe is the future of tourism in Cedar City?

Adams: Cedar City has definitely become a tourist destination and will do nothing but continue to grow in this area. With the (Beverley Taylor Sorensen) Center for the Arts completed and our past history of events like the Tour of Utah, we have been found. Tourism represents a large amount of our tax base, which allows us to provide quality services and venues for all to enjoy. Tourism will continue to bring support to our local businesses and allow them to be successful and raise their families in a great place like Cedar City.

Gillette: Cedar City is on the map and has the right location to offer many options for people to travel here. The options are many and our city will continue to see growth in this industry.

Bruce Hughes

Bruce Hughes

Submitted

Hughes: The future is bright and filled with outstanding opportunities. We already are doing well in tourism and we have all the elements to excel. We ARE the Festival City and are located in one of the most desirable, stunning areas of the world.

Johnson: I see a lot of growth in the future and with that can come a lot of tourism. We have beautiful National Parks all over and we are right in the middle of it all. We can lead a very bright future with the help of tourism, given the right course.

McAffee: I am a huge proponent of astro-tourism, because it is so efficient. I think it will be the future of tourism in Cedar. Astro-tourism is already a $250 million per year industry on the Colorado Plateau and Cedar City sits on the edge of the Plateau. We are positioned to be, not only the Gateway to the Parks, but also the 'Gateway to the Stars'.

R. Scott Phillips

R. Scott Phillips

Submitted

Phillips: I believe the future of tourism in Cedar City is very bright. Current tourism leaders have mapped out plans for making our community a prime destination for tourist regionally, nationally and internationally. However, I believe we must do more to make Cedar City the tourist destination it can be. Tourism is everyone’s business. Tourism is a huge economic driver in our region. Scenic and cultural tourism provide the best opportunities for us to capture a greater portion of the world tourist market.

4. What are your thoughts on Cedar City’s current water situation? If elected, how would you handle this matter moving forward?

Adams: We have to have water to live and grow. We are doing very well with the recharge projects that we have in place. However, we must continue to search for ways to bring more water to our valley. The Central Iron County Water Conservancy District (CICWCD) is working with the City to address both of the issues; recharging and searching for new sources. They also are working with farmers to find ways to conserve as they are the largest users. We all need to do what we can to conserve this valuable resource. I will continue work on this issue as we move forward as it is always a top priority for any City to find and use water efficiently and conserve in our desert climate.

Gillette: I believe the water situation as it sits now with the support of the CICWCD looks good. The development of bringing water in from Wah Wah Valley and reclaiming the Coal Creek water.

Hughes: Water is our most precious resource. In order to manage it properly, we must actively involve the largest water user – agriculture, which uses over 80% of our total water. There are innovations we can and must implement, but they cost money and we need to find ways to help our agriculture community use them.

Scott Johnson

Scott Johnson

Submitted

Johnson: Cedar needs to find a way to reduce its water consumption. Conservation in different forms is necessary. I am still researching different plans to move forward.

McAffee: Cedar City is currently drawing an unsustainable amount of water. As we grow, we will need even more. I am in full support of the West Desert Pipeline, which is our best choice for the long-term water needs of Cedar City. We already possess the rights to water in the Pine and Wah Wah Valleys and to provide the next 50 years of water to our community, we need to make this project happen.

Phillips: Cedar City and the CICWCD are taking positive measure to help our community address the water situation. However, there is still much that needs to be done. Cedar City and Iron County are projected to grow significantly over the next several decades and we must be prepared for this growth. No smart steps forward are possible unless we continue to find way to conserve, recharge, and acquire additional water rights for the future.